Wednesday's letters: Fighting poverty

Published: Wednesday, April 24, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, April 23, 2013 at 5:52 p.m.

To the editor: The new norm in working for a living is working to reach the poverty or near-poverty level. “Near poverty” is defined as up to 200 percent of the poverty level.

The vast majority of working Americans sell their labor. They are primarily dependent upon the earnings reported on the annual W-2 form received from their employer. In 2011, one-half of all W-2s — more than 75 million workers — had a reported income of less than $26,965. Working full time, the wage cap for these workers was $12.96 per hour. Almost all worked for considerably less.

The poverty guideline for a family of four was $22,350 in 2011; $10.75 per hour working full time. For most families in the lower earning half discussed above, both parents would necessarily be working to avoid poverty but remain poor. Had minimum wage kept up with inflation, it would be $10.56.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology calculates a near-poverty living wage for the same family living in Henderson County to be $18.82 per hour, or $39,146 per year. The mean average wage/salary disbursement for North Carolina in 2011 was $43,107. Nationally it was $41,211, and two-thirds of W-2 workers earned less.

Harold Hellickson

Hendersonville

Don’t miss it

To the editor: “Cotton Patch Gospel” at the Flat Rock Playhouse Downtown is the second of the season’s two opening shows that anyone from Henderson County gets a $5 discount on, and you shouldn’t pass it up.

The late Harry Chapin (of “Cats in the Cradle” fame) wrote the Southern folk and bluegrass songs for this show as his very last work, and they are awesome.

The singing, acting and playing of the guitar, mandolin, banjo and fiddle in the show are up to the task in every way!

The five performers are well known in music circles (one of them had a run as Jerry Lee Lewis on Broadway), and they lead the audience through this modern retelling of the Gospels of Matthew and John set in rural Georgia.

The narration and the songs from the cast jump from joyous to fearful and back again, and the audience goes right along with them.

While I could imagine this show coming across as hokey in other hands, this crew gives a performance that is powerful and very fun at the same time.

<p>To the editor: The new norm in working for a living is working to reach the poverty or near-poverty level. Near poverty is defined as up to 200 percent of the poverty level.</p><p>The vast majority of working Americans sell their labor. They are primarily dependent upon the earnings reported on the annual W-2 form received from their employer. In 2011, one-half of all W-2s  more than 75 million workers  had a reported income of less than $26,965. Working full time, the wage cap for these workers was $12.96 per hour. Almost all worked for considerably less.</p><p>The poverty guideline for a family of four was $22,350 in 2011; $10.75 per hour working full time. For most families in the lower earning half discussed above, both parents would necessarily be working to avoid poverty but remain poor. Had minimum wage kept up with inflation, it would be $10.56.</p><p>The Massachusetts Institute of Technology calculates a near-poverty living wage for the same family living in Henderson County to be $18.82 per hour, or $39,146 per year. The mean average wage/salary disbursement for North Carolina in 2011 was $43,107. Nationally it was $41,211, and two-thirds of W-2 workers earned less.</p><p><em>Harold Hellickson</em></p><p><em>Hendersonville</em></p><h3>Don’t miss it</h3>
<p>To the editor: Cotton Patch Gospel at the Flat Rock Playhouse Downtown is the second of the season’s two opening shows that anyone from Henderson County gets a $5 discount on, and you shouldn’t pass it up.</p><p>The late Harry Chapin (of Cats in the Cradle fame) wrote the Southern folk and bluegrass songs for this show as his very last work, and they are awesome.</p><p>The singing, acting and playing of the guitar, mandolin, banjo and fiddle in the show are up to the task in every way!</p><p>The five performers are well known in music circles (one of them had a run as Jerry Lee Lewis on Broadway), and they lead the audience through this modern retelling of the Gospels of Matthew and John set in rural Georgia.</p><p>The narration and the songs from the cast jump from joyous to fearful and back again, and the audience goes right along with them.</p><p>While I could imagine this show coming across as hokey in other hands, this crew gives a performance that is powerful and very fun at the same time.</p><p><em>Steve Walker</em></p><p><em>Hendersonville</em></p><p>Editor’s note: Cotton Patch Gospel opens today at Playhouse Downtown. For details, call 693-0731 or visit www.flatrockplayhouse.org.</p>